In Freedom's Cause : a Story of Wallace and Bruce eBook

Before they started Wallace briefly gave them his
orders, so that no word need be spoken when near the
town. The band were, when they entered, to divide
in three. Sir John Grahame, with a party, was
to make for the dwelling of Sir Robert Thorne.
Auchinleck, who had arrived with the party summoned
by the bugle, was to arouse the town and attack any
parties of soldiers in the street, while Wallace himself
was to assault the house of Hazelrig. He bade
Archie accompany him.

Knowing the town well Wallace led the party to the
moat at a spot facing a sally port. They moved
without a word being spoken. The men bearing
the tree laid it noiselessly to the ground. Wallace
himself sprang into the moat and swam across.
The splash in the water attracted the attention of
a sentry over the gate, who at once challenged.
There was no answer, and the man again shouted, peering
over the wall to endeavour to discover what had caused
the splash. In a few vigorous strokes Wallace
was across, hauled himself up to the sill of the door,
and with his heavy battleaxe smote on the chains which
held up the drawbridge. Two mighty blows and
the chains yielded, and the drawbridge fell with a
crash across the moat.

Instantly the men lifted the tree, and dashing across
swung it like a battering ram against the door —­
half a dozen blows, and the oak and iron yielded before
it. The door was burst in and the party entered
Lanark. The sentry on the wall had fled at once
to arouse the garrison. Instantly the three leaders
started to perform the tasks assigned to them.
As yet the town lay in profound sleep, although near
the gate windows were opening and heads were being
put out to ascertain the cause of the din. As
the Scots ran forward they shouted “Death to
the English, death to the bloody Hazelrig!”
The governor had long been odious for his cruelty and
tyranny, and the murder of Marion Bradfute had that
day roused the indignation of the people to the utmost.
Not knowing how small was the force that had entered
the town, but hoping only that deliverers had arrived,
numbers of the burghers rose and armed themselves,
and issued forth into the streets to aid their countrymen.
Wallace soon arrived at the governor s house, and
with a few blows with his axe broke in the door; then
he and his followers rushed into the house, cutting
down the frightened men as they started up with sudden
alarm, until he met Sir John Hazelrig, who had snatched
up his arms and hurried from his chamber.

“Villain!” Wallace exclaimed, seizing
him by his throat; your time has come to make atonement
for the murder of my wife.”